JAMES Elles, south-east England Conservative MEP, has hit out at Labour and Green MEPs who voted to end Britain's opt-out from the European Union's working-time directive.

The directive means workers must not work more than 48 hours a week on average, including working at home and being on call.

In the UK, workers at present have the right to work longer if they want. The European Parliament voted by 378 votes to 262 to scrap the opt-out.

The 19 Labour MEPs, including Peter Skinner, the South East's one Labour MEP, voted to drop the opt-out in spite of the fact that the Prime Minister supports it.

And south east's Green MEP Caroline Lucas said it was a health issue. "We do not tolerate opt-outs in other health and safety laws so why should we treat this one differently?

"We talk in Britain about the importance of eating well and avoiding stress, yet we fail to realise that instead of demonstrating commitment to the job, long hours equals more time with your doctor."

Lib Dems and UKIP members voted with the Conservatives.

A UKIP spokesmen said the party was against the working-time directive because it was against people's right to work.

New Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles said competitiveness was a big issue. Places like China and India posed a threat.

"In the USA and Canada they are completely focused on the threat to jobs in their country from China. It is a very serious threat and we have to be prepared to fight."

Mr Elles said Europe was a diverse place and labour practices should be a matter for individual EU countries.

"One of the reasons why Britain's economy has been so buoyant since the 1980s is our flexible employment policies," he said.

Europe had to be more competitive if its economy was to grow and this would only happen if employees and employers were flexible about working hours.

"In countries where there has been a reduction in working hours there has been a reduction in competitiveness," he said.

"Employees should have the freedom to work extra hours to earn extra money if they want to."

Firms and employees would have to record how long they work.